Von Braun, a businessman and former management consulting partner with McKinsey & Co., stated in biographical information he provided to Greenwich Time that he was "knighted by order of HM Queen Elizabeth II for services to education."

Town Democrats are taking issue with von Braun's claim.

On Wednesday, David White, Somerset Herald of Arms at the College of Arms in London -- a branch of the British royal household that holds records on heraldry, genealogy and pedigrees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland -- confirmed that von Braun was given a grant of honorary arms in 1983, and is considered a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John, which is a royal order of chivalry, headed by the queen of England, with a mission of improving the health of people around the world.

However, said White, "no one in England would really regard that as proper knighthood," on par with say, musicians Paul McCartney or Elton John.

"He's kind of stretching it a bit if he's saying he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II," White said.

Ruth Ann Skaff, executive director of the U.S. division of the Order of St. John, based in Washington, D.C., said Queen Elizabeth II is considered the Order's sovereign head, and the honors of membership and promotions -- an officer, commander, knight or dame -- are by her appointment. Candidates are vetted and then submitted, and the queen gives her approval.

"This is a bona fide, legitimate order of chivalry," Skaff said. "One of the hallmarks of an order of chivalry is that its sovereign head be a ruler like Queen Elizabeth. The appointments are made by her majesty."

Unlike Sir Paul McCartney, nobody in the Order of St. John is allowed to use the titles "Sir" or "Dame."

Von Braun received the honor after developing training programs in first aid and home health care for people living in Labrador and other remote areas of Canada. During a state visit to Canada in the summer of 1978, Queen Elizabeth II visited Newfoundland to see von Braun's project in Labrador, and congratulated him on his knighthood, which was documented in a Greenwich Time article later that year.

On his website, von Braun refers to a second knighthood. In 1983, von Braun was granted honorary arms, in conjunction with work to help people with vision problems in Oman. Von Braun said that work qualified him to be a Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John.

"Americans are either associate or honorary knights," von Braun said. "I figure if it's good enough for Dwight Eisenhower, it's good enough for me."

"It's not a knighthood," Farricker said. "I think it's really disingenuous of him to say that."

Farricker, who said he has verified the college degrees of three out of the four GOP school board candidates, also called the British Embassy and emailed the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at St. James's Palace to verify von Braun's claim. A spokeswoman there said they could find no trace of von Braun's name among those who have received knighthoods, but said their information does not include people appointed to the Order of St. John.

"We're entrusting people with our children," Farricker said. "We're trusting them to tell the truth, we're trusting them to be examples."

Von Braun called Farricker's vetting of his past a distraction from the real issues of the school board race.

"The fundamentals of this election is making sure Greenwich students get a damn good education," von Braun said. "Anything that diverts us from that is terrible."

Staff Writer Lisa Chamoff can be reached at lisa.chamoff@scni.com or 203-625-4439.